For Immediate Release:	July 22, 2002
For More Information:	Roger Rathman, Planned Parenthood Federation of New York City, Roger.Rathman@ppnyc.org, 212-274-7283
Sponsor Organization:	Planned Parenthood of New York City
Decision to defund the UNFPA is unconscionable
Statement by the Margaret Sanger Center International at Planned Parenthood of New York City New York - President Bush's decision today to back out of a $34-million pledge to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is unconscionable. This dramatic cut to UNFPA's budget will mean that countries that rely on U.S. support will now face staggering increases in unplanned pregnancies, maternal and infant deaths and abortions that otherwise could be avoided. This Administration is clearly putting the interests of a small number of religious-political zealots, who oppose international family planning, ahead of innocent women and their families around the world. Redirecting the funding appropriated by Congress for UNFPA to U.S. agencies as the Administration has suggested, does not mitigate the damage that will be caused by this decision. Life-saving programs that promote comprehensive sexuality education and health services for women and their families will have to be cut. UNFPA works in more than 60 countries where the U.S. agencies have no family planning programs - programs designed to meet the needs of some of the worlds most at-risk populations. The needs of millions of women and their families will now go unmet. We are outraged by this Administration's cynicism toward the women of the world and toward efforts to work globally for the improvement of their lives and the lives of their families. President Bush has called upon the international community's cooperation in the fight against terrorism; but when the UN calls upon the United States to contribute to the international fight for women's health and rights, the US policy is to play politics with women's lives. Roger Rathman Associate Vice President - Communications Planned Parenthood of New York City 212-274-7283 roger.rathman@ppnyc.org http://www.ppnyc.org /> http://www.othmerinstitute.org />